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The Chief of the Staff: Commissioner Barry C. Swanson
 Commissioner Barry C. Swanson took office as the Chief of the Staff on 1 May 2010. Commissioner E. Sue Swanson became the World President of Women’s Ministries on the 2 April 2011. Prior to this Commissioner Sue Swanson was the World Secretary for Women’s Ministries. As the Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Barry Swanson is second-in-command of the worldwide Salvation Army and chief administrative officer for The Salvation Army International Headquarters located in London, England.
Immediately preceding this appointment, from l October 2008, the Swansons led the USA Central Territory. As territorial commander, Commissioner Barry Swanson was the administrative and ecclesiastical leader of The Salvation Army in 11 midwestern states, which included more than 1,200 active and retired officers, 265 corps and almost 2,000 other centres of operation. Prior to being territorial commander, he held other territorial, national and international appointments. Especially memorable were the 16 years he served as a corps officer in various locations in the Central Territory.
Commissioner Barry Swanson is a native of Chicago, Illinois, having attended Northern Illinois University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing. In 1975 he married Sue Miller. They entered the college for officer training in 1976 and were commissioned as officers in 1978. Lieutenant and Mrs Swanson were appointed to corps work in Michigan and continued in this sphere of ministry for 12 years.
In 1990 Commissioner Swanson attended The Salvation Army’s International College for Officers (ICO) in London, England, where he underwent a specialised course of study with other Salvation Army officers from 26 countries. Commissioner Sue Swanson also had the opportunity in 2000 to grow in her faith in Christ with other officers at ICO.
In June 1990 Captains Swanson were appointed to Heartland Divisional Headquarters followed by another corps appointment prior to becoming the divisional leaders of the Heartland Division in August 1995, with promotion to the rank of major.
In July 1999 the Swansons’ officer experience was further widened on being appointed to territorial headquarters in Chicago with promotion to lieut-colonel. This was followed by an appointment with promotion to colonel, to the USA National Headquarters, Alexandria, in July 2006, when Colonel Barry Swanson was made the national chief secretary, and Colonel Sue Swanson the national secretary for women’s ministries.
In July 2007 the Swansons were promoted to the rank of commissioner and received overseas appointments. Commissioner Barry Swanson became the international secretary for the Americas and Caribbean department, while Commissioner Sue Swanson was appointed as the zonal secretary for women’s ministries at International Headquarters, London, England. Just one year later in October 2008 Commissioners Swanson returned to the United States to assume their appointments as territorial leaders of the USA Central Territory.
The Swansons are parents of four adult children.
July 2011
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